When you get your car back from the auto body shop after a collision repair, you'll want to make it a priority to preserve your car's new paint job. A car's paint can easily be chipped or damaged, so it's important to take precautions to protect your new coat from the elements. Here are a few ways you can keep your car's coat pristine throughout the summer and beyond.

How to Maintain Your Car's Paint This Summer

1. Keep It Covered

Hot weather, landscaping sprinklers, tree sap, bird droppings, and flying debris from summer rainstorms can all negatively affect the luster of your paint. If your car sits out in a driveway or parked in an outdoor parking lot all day, see if there's a convenient place nearby where you can keep your car covered. Whenever possible, park in covered carports, garages, or parking structures, so your vehicle spends less time exposed to the elements. 

2. Wash Weekly

For the first two weeks after you get your car back from the auto body shop, it's best to avoid washing it. This allows your new paint enough time to prime and dry. After that initial window, make a habit of washing your car on a weekly basis. Use mild soap and a soft microfiber towel to avoid scratching or dulling new paint. These routine washings will reduce the risk of water spots and residue-causing stains to help keep your car shiny and vibrant.

3. Avoid Gravel Roads

When driving along gravel roads, it's easy for small pieces of debris to get kicked up by your tires. Sharp gravel can scratch your new paint, so it's best to avoid dirt and gravel roads as much as possible. If you live near a construction zone or roads that are being repaved, try to find alternate routes that are smooth and even to preserve your car's paint. 

4. Park Away From Trees

Parking below trees may seem like a good idea since it will keep your vehicle shaded and cool. However, while your car may be cooler inside when you first get in, trees can be hazardous to your fresh paint job. Sap, bird droppings, wet leaves, or sharp branches and twigs can fall onto your vehicle, causing damage to the paint that will often require touch-ups to restore.

If you're looking for an auto body shop after a collision, reach out to the auto body technicians at Mark's Auto Body. With a friendly staff that's dedicated to quality craftsmanship and customer satisfaction, this local business has supported drivers throughout the greater Cincinnati, OH, area for over 25 years. To discuss your vehicle's options, call today at (513) 731-4273. For more information on their specialties, visit their website.